The
following is one of the weekly “Hook to the Liver” columns that are published in
El Universal every Sunday. From May 19, translated from
Spanish:

HOOK
TO THE LIVER

By José Sulaimán

I
have been through some time of reflexion. Our lives today are so different than
in my years of youth. It is not easy to adapt. I traveled to Cancún for the WBC
convention absolutely convinced to step down from the presidency of the WBC
after such a long 37-year period - a lifetime. I was not allowed. It made me
pause for a mental attitude renewal and my great gratitude and love for all
those that trust me.

My
mind went back to December 5, 1975, when during my first election I asked my
colleagues to define as priorities: Safety in boxing; to join in the struggle
against apartheid in South Africa; to devote for unity among all boxing
commissions of the world; to drastically change rules and regulations for good
rule and order. Boxing today has been taken to the highest levels ever in
history from those days of a savage legalised sport as it was in the past. We at
the WBC are very proud of it. It was not easy and there have been many
sacrifices, disillusions, and sadness, but we got it and we continue
going.

After
my election, I needed new objectives, new challenges. Two came to my mind: to
devote with a passion to get a piece of bread for those heroes of the past who
live in misery today, and to struggle against any institution or individual who
takes steps to damage the sport of our love. Boxing has no owner, other than the
people of the world who keep our sport alive, and the boxers who are boxing -
from four-rounders to a champion of the world. Boxing was the first sport on the
face of earth, since the cave era. It was one of the four founders of the
Olympic Games about 600 years before Christ. So we must fight … put on our
gloves … and go the distance if necessary against anyone who wants to bring
monopoly and deny opportunities to all those who deserve it in a violation of
the restraint of trade laws.

Only
Ministers of Sports or the National Olympic Committees should have the free
authority to designate the athletes to represent a nation, without illegal
conditions, without AIBA in boxing and the IOC at the Olympics imposing monopoly
by accepting only their professional boxers and not any one else, without
stepping on the sovereignty of the nations by ordering national federations to
change their laws to suit AIBA, without using the unquestionable power of the
IOC to back their egotistical and monetary ambitions, as well as their
monopolistic actions.

The
president of AIBA, Mr. Wu, has circulated among its affiliates that the
IOC is absolutely behind their institution. If that statement means that the IOC
only recognises AIBA, I would say that it is correct. There are almost 100 years
that AIBA is the organisation that takes care of boxing at the IOC. However, not
if it comes into professional boxing and only their boxers can participate at
the Olympiads. That is pure monopoly, which is unconstitutional in most
countries of the world. Monopoly is not allowing professional promoters,
managers, trainers, and boxing organisations to participate in activities that
should be free for all those that fill the requirements to participate, just as
AIBA does.

But
that move is only one step of the many wrong doings of AIBA. It has stated that
they are looking to become the one and only master-leader of boxing in all its
areas, including professionals, just like FIFA, for example. For that he has
presented to many investors a request for 165 million Swiss francs. That is also
okay, as anybody can form professional boxing organisations if they are within
the law. But they are offering a venture with Golden Boy Promotions which will
lead to WBC and other champions to step down from us and move to their system.
This is a threat to damage the WBC, even when Richard Schaefer called
that agreement untrue.

The
danger is that all those that are not inclined to accept there actions are
expelled. They did it to Romania and Africa and, believe it or not, they did it
to the USA, and let them back only when they changed their officers who now
kneel down to AIBA. The United States? The most important boxing country in the
world? The wealthiest? The most powerful? The King of the Media? Yes, the USA.
It's hard to believe because of the autonomy of the States, where many do not
agree with others in regards to laws … but they did it
!!!!!!!

As
it seems that there is indifference and total disregard of the boxing world,
they may think that it’s a joke !! Or that some are concerned only about what
happens in their area. My commitment to fight for what is right in the defence
of boxing took effect in my mind. I have 67 years in boxing and the WBC is
celebrating 50 years !!!! There is absolute unity among the 164 national
commissions that form the WBC. We must jump into the ring, put on our gloves,
and step forward for as many rounds as it might take - justice, respect of the
laws, human equality, respect to the rights of all, to stop their abuse of power
to impose what AIBA wants not only with the smaller countries, but also on the
large ones, like the USA.

What
is even more serious is the attitude of IOC. They write a letter of recognition
to AIBA. The president of the IOC did not respond to three letters from the WBC,
before it went to press as a courtesy, asking him if he and the IOC are in
support of all the doings of AIBA including monopoly, restraint of trade,
stepping on the sovereignty of the nations and all other wrong doings. Mr.
Rogge did not answer.He said
that he did in a press interview, but with all due respect to the press, that is
not an answer and the world of boxing wants it.

Mr.
Rogge, are you and the IOC behind all those moves of AIBA that will affect the
Olympic Games? Please do not take much of your important time. Just sayYES or NO.